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Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Federation of America reported $11.5 million in revenue and $4.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $77.15 went to program services, $22.24 to management and general costs and $0.61 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 93.3% of the total. Government grants made up 6.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $304,465 (President and CEO). 11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 272% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $4.1MFor context, the median across 185 covered public & societal benefit charities: $88.81 programs, $11.18 management, $0.01 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$86.37 $9.9M
- Government grants$6.64 $764K
- Program service revenue$3.82 $440K
- Investment income$3.17 $365K
Other revenue was negative: −$38,096. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.1% | 84.9% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 22.2% | 10.7% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 93.3% | 83.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 6.7% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.8% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $304,465 | $357,133 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 7.35% | 1.52% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 11 | 12 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 44.9 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 of 24 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseCFA Programs- CFA Programs advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. Education - CFA disseminates information on consumer issues to the public and the media as well as to policymakers and other public interest advocates. This is achieved by national social marketing campaigns, national education information and distribution, conferences, reports, news releases and by website. Research - CFA investigates consumer issues, behaviors and attitudes using surveys, polling, focus groups, and literature reviews. The findings assist consumer advocates and policymakers as…
America Saves- America Saves is a campaign that motivates, encourages, and supports low- to moderate-income households to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth. The research-based campaign uses the principles of behavioral economics and social marketing to change behavior. Non-profit, government, and corporate groups participate in America Saves nationally and through local, regional, and statewide campaigns around the country. America Saves encourages individuals to take the America Saves pledge and organizations to promote savings year-round and during America Saves Week
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President and CEO Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $290,915 | $0 | $13,550 | $304,465 |
| Director of Food Policy Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $168,952 | $0 | $30,666 | $199,618 |
| Director of Meetings & Events Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $132,283 | $0 | $25,818 | $158,101 |
| Director of AI & Data Privacy Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $137,250 | $0 | $8,652 | $145,902 |
| Administrative Director Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $138,657 | $0 | $7,018 | $145,675 |
| Director of Investment Protection Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $125,400 | $0 | $8,522 | $133,922 |
11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Consumer Federation of America (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $304K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b24 · 24 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 523
Private foundation grants it received
3 private foundations reported grants to Consumer Federation of America totaling $225K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Consumer Federation of America's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Consumer Federation of America, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Consumer Federation of America spent in 2025, $77.15 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All public & societal benefit charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Consumer Federation of America's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Consumer Federation of America reported that 77.1% of its $4.1 million in expenses went to program services, 22.2% to management and general and 0.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Consumer Federation of America pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Consumer Federation of America reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $304,465, for the role of President and CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Consumer Federation of America get its money?
Of $11.5 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 93.3% came from contributions and grants (including 6.7% from government grants) and 3.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Consumer Federation of America a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-0880625 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202631759349301763 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202541699349301024 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202411639349301501 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202321299349303527 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202211339349303091 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020 (amended), object 202101969349302175 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202041199349300834 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-0880625: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.